Machine for affixing postage



(No Model.) v I V 3 eeeeeee SSeSt 1. A. S. .KIBBY.

MACHINE FOR AFFIXING POSTAGE STAMPS T0 LETTERS. No. 503,933. PatentedAug. 22,1893.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

A. S. KIBBY. MAGHINE FOR AFFIXING POSTAGE STAMPS T0 LETTERS.

Patented Aug. 22, 18%;

(No Model.) 3 3 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

A. '3'. KIBBY. MACHINE FOR AFFIXING POSTAGE STAMPS T0 LETTERS.

No. 503,933. Patented Aug-22, 1393.,

ALEXANDER. s. KIBBY,

or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

".j MACHINE Foe AFFlXlN-GPS-TAGE STAM Pei-to Lat-Tans.

f f SPECIFICATION forming m of Letters Patent No; 503,933, dated August-22, 1893. Y

' Application filed August 19, 1892; Serirlll'o. 443,472. (No model.) v

- [b an whom it may concern;

Be it nown that 1, ALEXANDER S. KIBBY, a citizen'of the United States,residing at Ohi- ,cago, in the county of Cook and State of Illi-.

* 5 n ois,'-have inventedcertain newanduseful' Improvements inianApparatus for Clipping -andAffixingPostage-Stamps to Envelopes, of

'i which the 'following is a specification. -'.l.his.invention relatesto improvements in X0. an apparatusfor clipping and. aifixing postagestamps to envelopes,"and it consists in cerlain peculiarities of theconstruction, and the novel arrangement and operation of the va-l Iformed with a recess ll, which recess is covrlous parts thereof, as'willbe hereinafter m re fully set forth-and specifically'claimed.

Theobjects of thy-invention are first, to provide a device for'clippingandattaching postage stanips to envelopes, which shall be strong,durable, and eifec'tivefin' operation,

zo'y'et quite inexpensive; and second,'su'ch a de- H vice which fwill;first moisten theenvelope at the point to receive the stamp, and willthen clip the stampfroin, the sheet and-cause the same to adhere to theenvelope, by one movement of the-hand of the operator.

In order to enable others skilled in the art "to which myinvention.pertains to make and use the same, I. will now proceed to describe it,referring to the accompanying drawings, in

which- 1 Figure 1, isaperspective view'of my apparatus, with the postagestamps and an envelope-in position, as it appears when ready foroperation. Fig. 2, is a view in side elevation, 5 with a portionbroken'away', in order to show the means of moistening the envelope andthe die forclipping andalfixing the stamp. Fig.

3, is a 'Vertical sectional View, taken on line- 3, 3, of Fig. 2. Fig.4, is an enlarged detailv 0' view of a portion of one end of thepostagestamp carrier, showing the method of adj usting its rollers. Fig.5, is a rear view, taken on line -5, 5, of Fig. 1, showing the parts asthey appear when in their-normal 'position.

5 Fig. 6, is asimilar-view, showing the device 'asit appears after. thepostage stamp has been clipped from thesheet and pressed downv on theenvelope, and Fig. 7, is a front sectional view of a portion ofthebase-plate and the diegnide, showing a modification in the a method ofmoistening the envelope.

. adjusting the postage stamps.

out the different views of the drawings.

A, representsthe baserplateof my device, which is made of any suitablesize, form and material but preferably of metal, and substantiallyrectangular-in form as shown in the drawings, and is formed in-[itsupperrear Similar-letters refer to like parts throughi Surface with alongitudinal groove a, into which fits and operates one of the rollersfor Directly in front of the groove, to, and er:-

tending from one-end to near its'1niddle,"the" upper surface-of thebaseA, is*pi-ovided or I cred by means of a plate l), which is securedto the base A, by means of scrcws'for otherwise. The innerend of thereces'sB, is closed by a portion of the frontside of the base A,

asshown ate, in Fig. 1 ,-'and forms a box or receptacle 0, for thereception of a piece of sponge c, or other absorbent n ateriahwhich .maybe inoistened, and kept in sucha condition by means of a sufficientquantityoffwator, which may be injected through the opening a made inthe side a, for said purpose.

As before stated the plate I), issecured to the base A, over the recessB, and its inner por- --tionforms atop-ffor the receptacle or reservoirc,-while' its outer portion is provided with an open longitudinal slot0, which slot extends. from near the outer end of the plate I), inwardlyto a proper point, and is designed for the operation and guidance of themoistener-carrier 0-,which carrier, is provided on.

each side-with a groove 0 of a depth about equal to the-thickness of theplate I), which fits in said carrier, when in the slot. 0. i

To the lower portion of the carrier 0, and beneath the plate I), issecured one end of a spring (l, which is bifurcated at its free end, andis provided at'said bifurcation with -a small roller D, which roller maybe covered with felt D, or other suitable absorbentmaterial,which'materialwill absorb water from the saturated spongec',and will distribute it over a portion of the envelope; in its outwardmovement.

About the middle of the base A, and on the upper surface of the recessB, thereof,

and near the sponge receptacle 0, is formed a piece of rubberE, or othersoft material, to act-as a cushion-upon which the die 1",, for clippingthe stamps on the envelope will strike. To the upper surface of theplate I),

and near the front edge thereof, and directly rious parts of theoperating mechanism to.

their normal positions By reference to Figs. 2,.and 7, of the drawings,it will be seen that the upper surface of the recess B, inthebase-plate, is slightlyfinclined toward the inner portion of saidrecess, and that-the cushion E,is correspondingly 'inclined. Thisconstruction is thus designed so that the envelope will lie in aslightly inclined position under the die F, the bottom of which isalsoinclined in a slight degree, as-

is clearlyseen in- Figs. 2, 3, and 7, toward the rear side'of the baseA, and toward the end of the recess B, adjacent to the receptacles, thusmaking the corner f, of the dieF, some: what longer than its othercorners, so that in its downward movement it-willact upon the sheet ofstamps with a shearing cut, and when pressed entirely down on. theenvelope will firmly affix the stamp to the same.

To the rear side of the guide G, and near its upper portion, ispivotally secured a compound lever II, one arm 11, of which is slightlycurved, and formed with a. longitudinal or cam slot 7t, within whichslot is placed and operates a pin -21, which is secured to the upperportion of the dish, and moved there with.

To the lower end of the arm 11, of the compound lever ll, is pivotallysecured one end of'a rod or arm k, the other end of which is securedtothe upper-portion of the carrier 0'. Near the lower portion of the armH, of the lever ll, is pivotally secured an arm K, which has near itsfree end, a rearwardly extending pin 11', to engage with the teeth 1, onthe horizontal ratchet L, as will be presently explained.

To the lower portion of the guide G, and extending horizontallytherefrom, is an arm or bracket M, which is provided at a suitable pointnear the rear of the guide G, with an nprightpin m, and a short distancerearwardly therefrom with a screw m, which passes vertically throughsaid arm. Between the screw m; and the pin m, is placed in a horizontalposition the ratchet L, which is provided on its upper surface with anumber of teeth Z, for engagement with the pin t", on the i In order to'make tno engagement of the ratchet, more effectual, I l, with a. slightunder-cut Z, as

arm K.

said. pin with form the teeth shown.

- The ratchet L, is secured at each of its ends to upright pieces N,thelower tortions of which are formed with extensions n, which are providedwith vertical slotsn', intoswhich fits and operates one above the other,the bearings 01- ends of the rollers O, and 0. Within the slots n",ofthe pieces N, is placed movable blooksniwhich rest upon the uppersurface of the ends of the roller 0', and are held in position bymeansof springs n, the tension of which is regulated bymeans of screwsn, located in the top of the extensions. It is apparent that as theratchet 'L, is connected at eaolrof itsends to the rollers o, and 0', bymeans of the uprightpieoes N, and passes in its longitudinal movementbetween the pin m, and screw m',on thearm M,'which operates between thelower 'snrfacc of the ratchet and the upper roller, it and the rollerswill be held in an upright position.

Secured to the rear and lower portion ofv N, and extending'backward inan the pieces are the arms I,

upwardly curved position,

19, on their ,inner surfaces for the reception and retention of a sheetof tin or other suitable material, which is formed into a scrollS, asshown in Fig. 1, and acts as a protection and carrier for the sheet ofstamps.

To one of the rollers O, and O, and at, the end adjacent to the openendof the recess B, is attached an extension rod R, having on its freeend a thumb-piece R, for revolving the roller. This rod is thus extendedso that the revolution of the roller may not be interfered with, whenthe stamp carrier is placed in position to begin the operation ofstamping the envelopes, as indicated by dotted lines in El 5.

I n Fig. 7, I have shown a modification in the manner ofmoistening theenvelope which Iinay sometimes use, and which consists in employing abrush '1, made of sponge or other absorbent material-,secnred to the endof the spring-rod d,.instead of a roller.

The operation of. my device is simple. and as follows: The sheet ofstamps is placed within the scroll S, and has its edge passedbet-weenthe rollers O, and O, which is done by revolving one of saidrollers by means of the extension rod R, until the outer edge of thesheet of stamps rests against-and is guided, by the flange A, on theupper surface of the base A. The envelope is then placed in the recessB,and the die F, is forced downward by pressing upon the hand-piece fwhen the pin '5 will engage with one of the teeth 1, of the ratchet L,and by reason of the pin 2', operating in the cam groove h, of the arm11, will move the ratchet'and the stamp carrier or scroll S, forward fora which are or may be provided with grooves IIO thus causing themoistener to pass overa por-.

tion of the envelope, and the die in .its downward movement to clip thestamp. from the sheet and press it on and firmly secure it to theenvelope. The pressure is then withdraw-n from the hand-pie'pef when-thespring g,

will return the die,.with its lever H, and moistener-earrier'O', totheir normal positions, and the above described operation may berepeated till the entirelength of the sheet has passed under the die,when the arm K, will be raised out of engagement with the teeth I, bymeans of the curved lug L, which is placed on the end of the ratchet L,for said purpose, and the stamp carrier or scroll S, moved back to itsoriginal position, indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 5, and another rowof stamps passed between the rollers O, and by tntningthe extension red,when the above described operation may be again repeated.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an apparatus for clippingaud aifixing I postage stamps toenvelopes, the combination of a base plate having a recess to receivethe envelope, a receptacle for moistening mate rial and sewer for saidreceptacle and recess, having a guide-way C, for the inoistener-carrier, with the die-guide G, the die F, having the shank f, hand-piec fpin i, and spring g, the compound lever I-I, fulcrumed to the diegui'd'e G, and having the arm H, provided.

with the cam-slot h, and arm H, having secured to its lower portion thearm K, having the pin i, and the rod k, secured at its other end to thecarrier 0', the saidcarrier having the spring rod d, provided at itsfree end with a moistener distributor, the stampbarrier S, having therollers O, and 0', adjustablyfsecured at their ends, and the ratchet L,toengage with the pawl-arm K, all constructed, ar-

ranged and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In'an apparatus 'for clipping and aflixing postage stampsito'envelopes, the combination of the base-plate A, having the recess B, thereceptacle 0, provided with absorbent material c' ,the recess e, havingthe cushion or seat E, with the cover ly, having the guide-way C, thedie-guide G, havingthe arm M, provided with the'screw m, and pinm, thedie F, having the shank f, hand-piece f pin i, andspring g, the

- compound lever H, tnlcrumed to the'dieeguide G, and having the arm H",provided with the cam-slot h, and armI-I, having securedt'o its lowerport-ionthepawl-arm K, having the pin 1 and the rod 70, secured at itsother end to the carrier 0', the said carrier, havin the- D spring rod(1, provided at its freeend with a moistencr-distributer, thestamp-carrier S, having the rollers 0, and 0, adjnstablysa cured attheir 'ends,-and the ratchet L, 'to' exi-- gage with the pawl-arm K, ailconstructed, arranged and operating-substantially as and forthe'pnfrpos'e set forth. 1 v 3. In an apparatus forclipping and affixingpostage stamps to envelopes, the-combination of the base-plate A, havingtherecess B, the receptacle 0, provided with absorbent material c, therecess e, having the cushion or seat E, withthe plate or cover 'b,having the guideway 0, the die-guide G, having the arm M, provided withthe screw m, and pin m, the die F, having the shank f, hand-piece f pin'i, and spring the compound lever H, fulcrumed to thedie-guide G, andhaving the arm H, provided with the cam-slot h, and arm H having securedto its lower portion thepawl-arm K, having the pint", and the rod la-secured at its other end to the carrier 0', the said carrier havingthegrooves 0 and. rod (1,. provided at .its free end with ainoistenor-distributor, the stamp-carrier or scroll S, having therollers O, and 0', having their bearingsin the pieces N,;the said pieceshaving the vertical slots at, and provided with movable block-s n, andsprings a the ratchet L, having the under-cut teeth Z, to engage with 4the pawl-arm K, all constructed, arranged and operating substantially asand forthe purpose set forth. I 1 t t '4. In an apparatus forclippingahdaffixin g postage stamps to envelopes, the combination of abase-plateA, having a recessvto receive the envelope, a receptaclefor-the moistening material and a cover for said receptacle and recess,having a guide-way C, for the 1nois-. tenor-carrier, with thedie-guideG, having the arm M, provided withthe screw m, and pin m, the die F,having theshank f, hand-piece f pin a, spring g, and projecting bottomcornerf, the compound lever I-I, fulcrumed to the die-guide and havingthe arm' -H,'profvided with the cam-slot h, and arm H having secured toits lower'portion the arm K, having the pin i,and the rod is, securedatits other end-to the carrier 0', the said carrier having the rod d,provided at its free end with a moistener-distributer, the stamp-carrieror scroll S, having the rollers O, and O, adjustably secured" at theirends, the ratchet L, having the teeth Z, t9 engage with the pawl armK,'iand the curved lug L, to throw said arm out of engagement with theratchet, all constructed, arranged and operating substan- .tially as andfor-the purposeset forth;

' 5. In an apparatus for clipping and afiixing postage stamps toenvelopes, the combination .of a base plate, having'a recess to receivethe envelope, a receptacle for the moistening-mav terial and a cover forsaid receptacle and recess, having a guide-way C, for the moistener-031116120, with the die-guide G, having the arm M, provided with thescrew m, and pin m, the die F, having the shank f, hand-piece pin {5,spring 9, and projecting bottom cor- :38! f, the compound lever H,ifulcrumecl to the die-guide and having the min H, pmvided with thecam-slot h, endexrm H having secured to its lower portion the arm K,having the pin i, and the rod is, secured at its other end to thecarrier 0', the said carrier having the rod (1, provided at its free endwith a roller I), having the absorbent eovering- D, the stampmerrier S,having" the rollers O,

and 0', adjustebly secured at their ends, the m ratchet L, to engagewiththe pawl-arm K, 2.11- eonstructedmrranged and operating suhstem ziallyas and for the purpose set forth.

ALEXANDER SJKIB Y.

Witnesses:

CHAS. C. TILLMAN, E. .A. DUGGAN.

